PLUS: The Covid-19 headlines you need to know, a distraction, and something to read.
By Eve Sneider | 12.09.21 | The FDA approves boosters for teens, Austria will fine people who don't get vaccinated, and England announces public health measures. But first, here's this week's big story: |  | There are still many unknowns when it comes to the Omicron variant, but the World Health Organization said on Wednesday that this new strain has the potential to change the course of the pandemic. To date, it has been found in more than 55 countries. Early evidence suggests that two doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's shot may not provide sufficient protection, but a third dose appears to boost defenses. Other preliminary research into Omicron has found that the variant may have picked up a piece of genetic material from the virus responsible for the common cold. Still, it will take time for experts to fully discern where Omicron came from, how transmissible it is, and whether it causes more severe illness than other mutations. In the meantime, countries are scrambling to figure out if and how to amend travel policies, especially with the holidays around the corner. Countries including the US and Canada have banned travelers from southern Africa. Though there's mounting international pressure to reverse these restrictions, many seem liable to get stranded away from home. The US has also introduced more stringent testing requirements for travelers. | | Amid mounting evidence that booster shots help protect against Omicron, the FDA issued an emergency authorization today for 16- and 17-year-olds to receive Pfizer boosters. (CNBC) Austria's government has unveiled plans to make Covid vaccines mandatory for people 14 and older, saying those who fail to comply could be fined up to $4,000 every three months. (Reuters) UK prime minister Boris Johnson yesterday announced new public health measures in England to curb the spread of Omicron, including wearing masks in public and using vaccine passes. (Al Jazeera) The FDA has authorized a Covid-19 antibody drug from AstraZeneca that is meant to provide long-term prevention against infection for people with serious health problems or allergies. (CBS News) Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin has issued an apology for going clubbing after her foreign minister tested positive last weekend. She was originally told she didn't need to quarantine, and she missed a later text saying she should do so. (BBC) | | You really can find anything on Facebook Marketplace—including "graze boxes," takeout containers filled with artfully arranged crackers and lunch meat. | | There's no better time of year to treat friends and loved ones who are a little fried. Here are some gift ideas for people in need of stress relief. | |
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